Lieberman: Public Option Not Good On Politics Or Substance (VIDEO)

Even with Al Franken finally seated, Democrats will have trouble getting their agenda through the Senate. Case in point: Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman, who told the New Haven Independent that public health care couldn't and shouldn't pass.

"I'm skeptical of it, both in substance and in the politics," Lieberman said to the paper. "And by the politics I mean I think we're not going to get the votes to pass the overall bill if that becomes a condition of it."

On the substance, Lieberman said: "Part of my concern is ... that inevitably if we create a public option, the public is going to end up pay for it and that's a cost we can't take on."

Watch:

Lieberman has declined to back a public option in the past.

Independent Bernie Sanders has challenged Democrats to commit to opposing a filibuster on health care, even if they don't vote for the bill.

"I think the idea of going to conservative Republicans, who are essentially representing the insurance companies and the drug companies, and watering down this bill substantially, rather than demanding we get 60 votes to stop the filibuster, I think that is a very wrong political strategy," Sanders said.

Comments

[JustBNice]

Prediction (I'm going way out on a limb)

Joe Lieberman is probably finishing his last term as Senator. Retirement is in his future.

[dannneeboy]

Cancer

[iamvalid]

Of all the politicians I have ever met, read about or viewed on TV, Joe Liberman has got to be the most pathetic one in the entire existence of our country. Liberman stands for absolutely nothing and I do mean nothing except for Joe Liberman. He belongs to no political party because no political party would claim him. Joe for the sake of America, it's citizens and to the overall benefit of humanity, RESIGN.

[citizensrus]

July 6, 2006: "What I'm saying to the people of Connecticut, I can do more for you and your families to get something done to make health care affordable, to get universal health insurance." Joe Lieberman

[Chaimirija]

OH, the insurance mandate is IN the bill. Sounds to me he is trying to get rid of the public option completely

[JustBNice]

Joe will be retiring when his term is up. Or be retired.

Does anyone in Connecticut really like him anymore ?

[citizensrus]

Lieberman must be getting paid $$$ to shill for the Insurance Co.
"In a speech to the American Medical Association, President Barack Obama said that a single-payer health care system works "pretty well" in some countries.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), however, said that a new government-run health care program is a bad idea and an expensive one.


“I mean, obviously, that was the president’s statement, so I don’t know which countries he had in mind,” Lieberman told CNSNews.com. “But I’m not in favor of a public plan option in the health care plan this year for a couple of reasons. We’ve got two great public programs, government health care insurance programs: Medicare and Medicaid.”

Lieberman continued: “We are at a time when the federal deficit is going out of sight. I don’t think we want to start another government program that is going to end up costing the taxpayers a lot of money. Besides, there’s a lot of competition in insurance now and people therefore can benefit from it without us getting into another government-run health program.”
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=49994

[citizensrus]

Lieberman to the people: "I've got mine!"

[ncmom54]

Thank You Senator Lieberman,

Now Americans can know where we rank on your list of priorities...

Below Politics & Cost

Just curious; Where was the War on that scale?

[sosi]

This Israel agent is still passing as an American...

[AntiRethuglican]

Droopy Dog Liberman is a real gonif!

[bobrobthomas]

Lieberman's objection is - "the American public will end up paying for it?" Even the private insurance companies admit that a public option will cost 25% LESS then every private option. I am personnally in favor of ANY option that costs 25% less.

[JustBNice]

I hope that's an accurate quote, I'd love to post it myself.

Is it verifiable ?

[CaptainVideo]

I suspect that what Lieberman is really up to is to trade support for a public option in return for the Obama administration stopping its pressure on Israel to stop expanding the settlements. Israel is always Lieberman's first priority.

[Tomlastliberalleft]

Ok Connecticut, do the right thing, vote him out.

[Rogman66]

Ok people, it's time to get rid of this a$$hat. Seriously, how did the people of CT ever re-elect this guy after the way he followed Bu$h on the war and turned on Dems at almost ever chance?

[folktraveler]

let's cancel his insurance. and cancel it now!

[JustBNice]

Excellent idea !

[KCRoger]

He supports Bush's wars, he campaigned for John McCain, and now he's trying to shoot down a health care plan that will help billions of middle and lower class Americans. Pay attention Connecticut: Your senator is neither a Democrat nor an Independent; He's just your garden variety Republican in sheep's clothing.